tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39168922000526452502024-03-05T01:51:15.846-06:00Mama Sass*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-72604228552160590022011-06-30T11:09:00.004-05:002011-06-30T11:16:38.755-05:00Latest Piece: Anchor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5075/5886060039_38a32d5e70_b.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 522px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5075/5886060039_38a32d5e70_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;" >I've been assembling pieces to decorate the wall above my bed. I have some pieces that friends made for me, from embroidery to paintings, a sun burst piece, a dream catcher my beau's mom gave me and a flashcard of a Dulcinea. I decided that I wanted a larger piece, something grounding, something stabilizing. An anchor came to mind and I quickly went to work on it. Recently I've been stretching my work onto wood frames and kind of, but not totally, abandoning the embroidery hoop frame I've used for a while. I'm really happy with how it turned out and not to jinx myself, but last night, the first night it was up on my wall, I slept so hard and so peacefully. *contented sigh*</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;" >xo,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;" >*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-21647527708911446202011-06-06T12:09:00.003-05:002011-06-30T11:17:50.469-05:00Break Free<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.superfunnypic.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10007&g2_serialNumber=2"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 506px;" src="http://www.superfunnypic.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=10007&g2_serialNumber=2" alt="" border="0" /></a>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-92027770394673911262011-03-11T10:55:00.002-06:002011-03-11T11:05:37.467-06:00Spread the Word<span style="font-weight: bold;">There's a lot going on in the world right now that's just plain ol' shitty (Wisconsin and the tsunami for example). And then a friend pointed out this Rachel Maddow video to me about the atrocity that's going down in Michigan. I was born and raised in the Mitt. My mom and many of my close friends still live there. If the Governor there actually gets to do the things he's setting out to do reported in this video, Michigan (my friends and family) will indeed be </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">screwed</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please watch this video. Educate yourself and spread the word.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AUpO1QFMDtM" frameborder="0"></iframe></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-46190118029903723562011-02-09T16:14:00.001-06:002011-02-09T16:19:01.088-06:00Facehugger<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sometimes you just have to make a facehugger ski mask. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Right? </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ya damn right.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TVMSbljXo4I/AAAAAAAAB2k/dUTvZ9Z74hc/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TVMSbljXo4I/AAAAAAAAB2k/dUTvZ9Z74hc/s400/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571817429133665154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TVMSbPPNe3I/AAAAAAAAB2c/rwfpn3o9URg/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TVMSbPPNe3I/AAAAAAAAB2c/rwfpn3o9URg/s400/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571817423143533426" border="0" /></a>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-31479351295481601142011-02-09T09:43:00.002-06:002011-02-09T09:44:26.322-06:00Eyebrows.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/c0099d21-9344-40af-9e10-4e90ef94e14b.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 270px;" src="http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/c0099d21-9344-40af-9e10-4e90ef94e14b.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yep.</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-46969834441761799972011-01-26T15:05:00.002-06:002011-01-26T15:21:22.705-06:00Y: The Last Man<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/8/2009/12/10-y.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 504px; height: 755px;" src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/8/2009/12/10-y.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">About ten minutes ago I finally finished the graphic novel series </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.dccomics.com/vertigo/graphic_novels/?gn=1736">Y:The Last Man</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">. I've been plowing through all ten books, one after another, like candy. I haven't been able to get enough of them and now it's over. It's all over. It's been a long time since I've finished a book(s) and found myself so engaged with the story and characters that I was sad when I came to the end. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I can't believe it ended. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Most of my friends are comic book geeks (I say this with great affection), but up until about two years ago I could never get into them. Then I took a chance and read </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Watchmen </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">and I've spiraled into graphic novel heaven ever since. So far, everything I've read I've loved, but </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Y: The Last Man </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">was the first to actually make me fight back tears when I came to the end. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The graphic above begins the premise of the story; A plague hits the earth killing every living being with a Y chromosome...except one man and his monkey, Ampersand. Dun dun dun!!! I could go into it further, but then I'd give away too much. So, in short, READ THESE BOOKS!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PS. Why does it have to be over? le sigh.</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-17555535896661164872011-01-25T14:19:00.002-06:002011-01-25T14:23:20.547-06:00Girl Crush<span style="font-weight: bold;">I can't deny that my girl crush on Zooey Deschanel is getting more and more out of hand. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This video doesn't help.</span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18915786" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/18915786">She & Him - Don't Look Back</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mergerecords">Merge Records</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PS. I don't mean to snuff M. Ward by any means. I crush him, too. :)</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-82132909351654387522011-01-12T12:03:00.008-06:002011-01-12T12:21:56.509-06:00Catch Up<span style="font-weight: bold;">It would seem I haven't posted here since August. I guess that happens when you start a <a href="http://thelensandthesurface.blogspot.com/">blog </a>that requires you to post something everyday for a year. :)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Anyhoo, I'm just going to play a quick catch up on the things that I've made recently. My peeps on the Facebook seem to enjoy photos of the things I make, so I might as well share it here, too.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3w1JxArVI/AAAAAAAAByM/7foQC0fI0hw/s1600/080.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3w1JxArVI/AAAAAAAAByM/7foQC0fI0hw/s400/080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561365910817647954" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3w0wzxonI/AAAAAAAAByE/x63n8czI4Fg/s1600/072.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3w0wzxonI/AAAAAAAAByE/x63n8czI4Fg/s400/072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561365904118358642" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3u3LkbWzI/AAAAAAAABx0/JVCS8MM8XgA/s1600/079.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3u3LkbWzI/AAAAAAAABx0/JVCS8MM8XgA/s400/079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561363746638224178" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3u28AJYSI/AAAAAAAABxs/KePXPLEZo1g/s1600/078.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3u28AJYSI/AAAAAAAABxs/KePXPLEZo1g/s400/078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561363742459519266" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3u2RaYiAI/AAAAAAAABxk/FnwEkayAOVQ/s1600/073.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3u2RaYiAI/AAAAAAAABxk/FnwEkayAOVQ/s400/073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561363731026839554" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3u2Ia1u6I/AAAAAAAABxc/RrqWiXXOToE/s1600/067.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3u2Ia1u6I/AAAAAAAABxc/RrqWiXXOToE/s400/067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561363728612834210" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3u1iKCsGI/AAAAAAAABxU/hGZA13p_u4k/s1600/167918_10150120706264610_670354609_7700960_6578720_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3u1iKCsGI/AAAAAAAABxU/hGZA13p_u4k/s400/167918_10150120706264610_670354609_7700960_6578720_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561363718341832802" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Work in progress:</span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3wBlgEkhI/AAAAAAAABx8/OQF5s5i-87k/s1600/9755439_orig.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TS3wBlgEkhI/AAAAAAAABx8/OQF5s5i-87k/s400/9755439_orig.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561365024909595154" border="0" /></a>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-18454562130215511382010-08-12T09:42:00.002-05:002010-08-12T09:49:08.020-05:00Getting Through It<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">One of my favorite blogs is <a href="http://1000awesomethings.com/">1000 Awesome Things</a>, which lists 1000 things that make life...well...awesome. I love it because it often makes me laugh because I can relate to the simplicity of the awesome things they point out. It just makes me happy that there's at least one other person out there who sees life for the simple joys and revels in them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Today I saw this post: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/12/31/601-getting-through-it/">Getting Through It</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I have to admit that I normally just read the subject title to a post because I get it right away. Example: <a href="http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/12/25/605-christmas-hugs/">Christmas Hugs</a>. Dude. I totally understand that one. I understood the title of the Getting Through It, too, but today I just had to read the whole post. It helped reaffirm things I've been feeling lately. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So, folks, I hope you're able to look at the tough times and realize how amazing you are for getting through it. Kudos to you.<br /><br />You.<br />Are.<br />Awesome.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">xo,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span><br /></div>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-85367397309062695332010-07-28T09:54:00.003-05:002010-07-28T10:02:15.038-05:00The Fiber Between Us<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Readers,</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm putting together a site for handmade wedding gifts. At the moment I'm calling the site </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Fiber Between Us</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.<br /> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />I've just come to notice that a lot of my friends who have gotten married over the past five years have asked to make them something for their wedding and I really enjoy the process. I have listed items like handkerchiefs, chuppahs, embroidered detail on veils, fabric/crocheted garlands, banners and of course, custom orders. I'm still tweaking the site before I officially launch it and I'm looking for advice from brides and grooms on what kind of things they would like to see on such a site. If any of you have tips or suggestions I'd love to hear them. :)<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank ya kindly and happy Wednesday!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />*M*</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TFBGM-2I20I/AAAAAAAABR0/6gtnUQe_mCk/s1600/2263599394_c33cb729f5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/TFBGM-2I20I/AAAAAAAABR0/6gtnUQe_mCk/s400/2263599394_c33cb729f5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498972333861821250" border="0" /></a>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-87355351487049799382010-06-18T11:58:00.002-05:002010-06-18T12:12:44.942-05:00The List of Things to Come<span style="font-weight: bold;">1. </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.focalpointtheatre.com/index.html">All in the Timing</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> opens in less than a week. I. Am. STOKED.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. I decided today that I'm going to submit my Badasses Drinking Through Straws series to the <a href="http://littleyellowbirds.blogspot.com/2010/06/call-for-cutting-edge-work-that.html">Textile Arts Center </a>opening show. I just have to write an artist statement. Currently mulling over that one.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Going to see Toy Story 3 tonight and I've been texting my boyfriend with things like "toy story toy story toy story! I'm so excited!!! :D". I'm ready. I want to see it right friggin <a href="http://www.krisblack.com/storage/desktop-journal/toy-story-3.jpg">now</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. I've started a new embroidery series. I'm stitching simple inspirational quotes, such as "When you throw dirt, you lose ground", but mixing up the letters within the words. The concept is that there are so many simple solutions to life's problems and we tend to over complicate those solutions and make things harder for ourselves. Hopefully, the series makes sense to people. That is the point after all. <a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/12/12/funny-pictures-out-hav-fun-we-b-gud/">*wink wink*</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Sunday is <a href="http://grahamten.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/star-wars-happy-fathers-day.jpg">Father's Day</a>. Don't forget to call yo' papa!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">xoxo,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-21212877690225725132010-05-05T09:27:00.002-05:002010-05-05T09:38:53.561-05:00Can't<span style="font-weight: bold;">I've been thinking a lot about how I've never been one to think "I can't (fill in the blank)". It kills me when I see someone say that they can't do something. When I was younger I worked with this children's theatre company called The Treehouse Players in Detroit. The best thing they ever taught us was "</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Can't</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">...is not an option." That phrase has stuck with me my entire life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">YOU are not so unimportant as to let such a small word like "can't" get in your way. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">YOU are amazing.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wake up and deal with your amazingness.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Start realizing how much you CAN do.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Love,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-54381435820796916862010-04-16T09:27:00.003-05:002010-04-16T10:08:04.355-05:00Me & Philip Glass<span style="font-weight: bold;">We (<a href="http://www.focalpointtheatre.com/index.html">Focal Point Theatre Company</a>) had our first rehearsal for <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.focalpointtheatre.com/coming-soon.html">All in the Timing by David Ives</a> this past week. The production consists of four ten minutes plays, one of which is called <span style="font-style: italic;">Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread</span>. People seem to be very excited that we're attempting to perform this piece. Basically, the dialogue is written in the same vain as Glass' music. It's chaotic, simultaneous, sparse, intense, lovely and difficult. Melissa, our director, decided that for our first night of rehearsal we would focus on just that piece and thank God she did! We broke the script up into 28 movements, figured out the tempos and timing and by the end of it we were all fried. Happily fried. Happily, confidently, satisfyingly fried. This is one of the most challenging pieces I've ever done. I can see why people don't perform it often. And I can't wait to show our audiences that we can pull it off. :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I've discovered that there is a documentary on <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/philip-glass/glass-a-portrait-of-philip-in-twelve-parts/1125/">Philip Glass</a> on Netflix (that I'm watching as I type this). Within the first 4 minutes I had a better understanding of how his mind works. The opening interview follows his wife as she describes the chaos that is his office. How she hopes there's never a fire in their house because (while the originals of all his scores are in archives) his entire library of all his music was sitting on one shelf in that room. How his desk is covered in papers until he finishes a piece at which time he cleans everything only to have it a complete mess three days later. His sense of humor really <a href="http://unholymatrimony.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/surprise.jpg">surprised </a>me. Not sure why. He also makes his own pizza dough. How can you not love that? :)</span><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5dVNwmj11bk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5dVNwmj11bk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-55164412685459654302010-04-13T10:33:00.002-05:002010-04-13T10:35:18.516-05:00The best thing I've seen in a long time<span style="font-weight: bold;">Mr. T's 80s Fashion Extravaganza!</span><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/InNdEWXWtsA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/InNdEWXWtsA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="385" width="640"></embed></object>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-7395412410659485782010-03-24T10:42:00.007-05:002010-03-24T10:58:25.546-05:00A New Endeavor!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Readers,</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />I'm pleased to announce that I am the new managing director for the Focal Point Theatre Company here in Chicago.! :)</span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/S6o2Yp0mpaI/AAAAAAAAAzA/BPHTX6GEPM8/s1600/FPTC+logo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 195px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/S6o2Yp0mpaI/AAAAAAAAAzA/BPHTX6GEPM8/s400/FPTC+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452230096056657314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />One of my best friends and I have been talking about starting our own company for a couple of years now and this is the year we're making it happen. We're about to go into rehearsals for our inaugural production of David Ives' <a href="http://www.focalpointtheatre.com/coming-soon.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">All in the Timing</span></a>. All the proceeds will go towards applying for our 501c3. If you're in the area the week of June 23-26th please come visit us at the historic <a href="http://theflatironproject.com/">Flat Iron Building</a> in Wicker Park.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">We'll soon have a blog up and running, but for the mean time please check out our new website: </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.focalpointtheatre.com/index.html">www.focalpointtheatre.com</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">We're also on Facebook, so please become our friend!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Woo hoo!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-11730948457657174172010-03-15T10:35:00.002-05:002010-03-15T10:38:45.125-05:00Threadknits Winner!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Readers...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I won! I found out over the weekend that I won 2nd place for crochet in the Threadknits contest hosted by Threadless Shirts!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You can see all the winners </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.threadknits.com/winners">here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm super excited that my zombie suit won. He was a labor of love (with an emphasis on the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">labor</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">).</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama-sass/4359712434/" title="My last Threadknits submission by Mama Sass, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4359712434_954d64e0f5.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="My last Threadknits submission" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Congrats to all the winners! Woo hoo!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-7888254270331956892010-03-10T16:36:00.004-06:002010-03-10T16:45:17.490-06:00Espresso and a New Series<span style="font-weight: bold;">There is nothing quite like spending a sunny afternoon embroidering to your heart's content with a side of espresso readily available.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I've started a new embroidery series. Basically, I'll be taking images of nature from illustrated dictionaries and such and couple them with lyrics from rock songs. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This little guy is a Fire Weaver and his lyric will be "I'm a breathing time machine" -The Avett Brothers. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/S5gfHBZ_47I/AAAAAAAAAvQ/UjgvulxWA4Q/s1600-h/Picture+106.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/S5gfHBZ_47I/AAAAAAAAAvQ/UjgvulxWA4Q/s400/Picture+106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447137954801640370" border="0" /></a>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-59697007845863568792010-03-02T14:33:00.003-06:002010-03-02T14:52:20.335-06:00We're Open and the Reviews Are In!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Readers,</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.pointofcontention.org/nowplaying.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Vanishing Points</span> is open</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> and our first weekend went <a href="http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/images/hulk-smash.jpg">smashingly</a>! With that said...I'm so happy to have a couple days off! We went through tech and dress rehearsals for almost two weeks straight and I. Am. <a href="http://www.littledogrescue.com/Carley%20Pics/Carley8Pooped.jpg">POOPED</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Luckily, we're getting some good reviews. Yay for hard work paying off!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://chicagotheaterblog.com/2010/03/01/review-vanishing-points-point-of-contention-theatre/">Chicago Theatre Blog</a><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://chicago.timeout.com/articles/theater/83352/vanishing-points-at-point-of-contention-theater-review">Time Out Chicago</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Turn off your TV and come support your local theatre! STAT!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">xoxo,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-52759352695441125642010-02-25T10:16:00.004-06:002010-02-25T10:20:28.682-06:00Opening Night<span style="font-weight: bold;">Howdy Friends!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We open <span style="font-style: italic;">Vanishing Points</span> tonight! POC had some company members sit in on our last dress rehearsal yesterday and we got a lot of positive feedback. Woo hoo! I'm so ready for this play to open. It feels like we've been working on it forever and now it's time for the public to see all our hard work. If you're in the Chicagoland area, please come check us out! </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.pointofcontention.org/">www.pointofcontention.org</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/S4ajEuPS18I/AAAAAAAAAtc/G7JltMUjFBg/s1600-h/Picture+067.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/S4ajEuPS18I/AAAAAAAAAtc/G7JltMUjFBg/s400/Picture+067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442216501250807746" border="0" /></a>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-80507300897038651122010-02-19T09:27:00.003-06:002010-02-19T09:32:34.856-06:00Almost Open<span style="font-weight: bold;">Howdy Howdy!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Well, we're less then a week from the opening of Vanishing Points!</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />The show has been coming together quite nicely. We're finally done with Q2Q and tonight we have our first run in the space. Costumes, lights, makeup, sound, the whole shebang. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />If you're going to be in the Chicagoland area over the next month come check us out!</span><br /><br /> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.pointofcontention.org/nowplaying.html">Vanishing Points</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Feb. 25-March 20th </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">P.S. I'm so friggin' tired. At least, it's a good tired. :)</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/S36utSit79I/AAAAAAAAAsI/QIPI-qzRE0A/s1600-h/vpposter.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/S36utSit79I/AAAAAAAAAsI/QIPI-qzRE0A/s400/vpposter.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439977493004939218" border="0" /></a>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-8436659155713569822010-02-12T15:05:00.002-06:002010-02-12T15:32:39.065-06:00Catch Up<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dear Readers,<br /><br />Boy, oh boy, have I been busy! Wooooooooo weeeeeeeeeeeee!<br />My show, <a href="http://www.pointofcontention.org/nowplaying.html">Vanishing Points</a>, opens in less than two weeks. It's really coming together, but I really need to bare down and drill some of my lines into my head. There always seems to be those couple of lines that for whatever reason I can't get my mouth to wrap around correctly. It's really frustrating, but I'm getting it together. Slowly, but surely.<br />I'm producing the next Babes With Blades show, <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.babeswithblades.org/gulagmouse.html">A Gulag Mouse</a>, which opens March 29th (-May 1st). I won't lie, it's been stressful producing a show while being in rehearsals for another one. Luckily, the cast is in rehearsals now and from what I've been hearing everything is going well. Thank ya <a href="http://423smith.com/wp-content/jeebus.jpg">Jeebus</a>.<br />My friend Melissa and I are starting a new theatre company called Focal Point Theatre and we'll be performing our first show at the end of June. We're going to do a series of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ives">David Ives</a> ten minute <a href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/h1/h9298.jpg">plays</a>. I'm really looking forward to it, but it's pretty daunting that it's coming up at a time when I'm already so stressed and so busy. I know it'll work out. I know it's going to be worth all the heavy breathing I'm undergoing.<br />And just yesterday I got confirmation that a children's show that my friend Eric is writing and directing is a go and he wants me in it. I was freaking out a little yesterday because now I have to figure out how to balance a rehearsal schedule between that show and the ten minute plays. I'll be doing them one right after the other. Yes. I am <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vU_vGlrS5MK5u54g5E139-OKQ1EYVj8WVAZ7-3e7TZbfziyoaIIghmO8gdL0K0A5NziB9xqALygAy3oFznqVgu7AgzPZ_X-f5w9fYEJBKsZWmaLnhKxmbK1qB_Jxf4JG6Odi77k6WNk/s400/homer4.jpg">insane</a>.<br />Aside from my theatre life keeping me busy, I'm about to open a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/morganmanasa?ga_search_query=morganmanasa&ga_search_type=seller_usernames">new Etsy shop</a> devoted to just my art work as opposed to my craft work, I'm finishing up my last submission for the <a href="http://www.threadknits.com/">Threadknits</a> contest (and the deadline for that is March 1!), I'm trying to spend time with my sweetie, trying to see my friends (who I'm getting the impression think I'm putting them off or don't want to make time for them. This makes me sad as it's not about not wanting to be with them. It really is that I'm so busy and committed to so much right now that I'm barely able to get a full night's sleep these days. So, if you're one of those friends who I haven't seen for a while let me just say, I miss you, too. We'll hang out soon. I swears it.), and last but not least I might (hopefully not) need to think about finding a new job. I don't want to think or talk too much about it right now, but it's something that's weighing on me a lot these days.<br /><br />I've also been listening to a lot of <a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/favorites.aspx">This American Life</a> the past two weeks. Wouldn't you know...now I want to start recording podcasts. Will this desire to do everything ever cease? (Part of me hopes not!)<br /><br />Happy Pre-Valentine's Day (if you're into that kind of thing),<br />*M*<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wackystuff/2886820881/" title="There's Always a Happy Ending by wackystuff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2886820881_568c0eba63.jpg" width="379" height="500" alt="There's Always a Happy Ending" /></a><br /></span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-62575429303592174612010-02-05T11:46:00.002-06:002010-02-05T11:53:35.481-06:00Exhaustion Monster<span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm pooped.<br />I'm so tired that I've randomly burst into tears a couple times the past few days.<br />Rehearsals for <span style="font-style: italic;">Vanishing Points </span>are going well. So, at least it's worth being tired on that front.<br />I've got some day job limbo going on at the moment which has put my life a little on edge.<br />Last night my fella and roommate were giving me a hard time, telling me I shouldn't do anything this weekend. And they're right.<br />I've canceled my plans and I'm staying home to be lazy.<br />I don't want to see anyone or do anything.<br />I might actually finish some projects, clean my house, snuggle with Sponge and, dear God....catch up on sleep!?!? Woooooooooooow.<br />Dear readers, I hope you get to rest this weekend, too.<br /><br />xoxo,<br />*M*<br /></span> <a href="mailto:rmiliano@remax.net"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/milliemotts/1203317843/" title="tired out by Millie Motts, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1021/1203317843_002cfe7285.jpg" width="497" height="500" alt="tired out" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-36512217689907699082010-01-29T20:04:00.003-06:002010-01-29T20:12:50.518-06:00Queen Elizabeth Drinking from a Juice Box<span style="font-weight: bold;">Here is Queen Lizzie in all her glory. I was kind of intimidated to make this one. I knew going into it there would be an insane amount of detail. But I'm happy with how she turned out.<br /><br />Tamed the beast.<br />Long live the queen...and her Juicey Juice.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/S2OUuH_0wmI/AAAAAAAAAm8/JrUISqfQebM/s1600-h/DSC07504.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_r3jdg88-suM/S2OUuH_0wmI/AAAAAAAAAm8/JrUISqfQebM/s400/DSC07504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432349095680590434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-10086457478572100282010-01-26T14:36:00.002-06:002010-01-26T14:43:49.225-06:00Afternoon of turtles and octpuses<span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm happy to report that I'm almost done with the next installment of my badass series. Queen Elizabeth is very close to being completed. Ha cha!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">While I'm taking a break and letting my hands rest I came across two things of awesomeness.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. <span style="font-style: italic;">Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze</span> is on Netflix Instant Watch. While it's awful in it's 80s campiness, it's also extremely RAAAAAAAAD in it's 80s campiness. :)</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">And now I'm craving pizza. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. While perusing Flickr just now I came across a fellow crocheter, kidmissle, who has a "</span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kidmissile/sets/72157618622657210/">Yarn Octopus Army</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">" she's working on. Yeah. You read that right....Yarn. Octopus. Army. Check it and bask in the awesome if'n you please.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy Tuesday!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3916892200052645250.post-59065551586670221782010-01-25T09:56:00.003-06:002010-01-25T10:21:49.491-06:00Squeeeee!!!!!<span style="font-weight: bold;">I've tried to find a way to not make this sound boastful, but I'm not sure I can so....I've been featured on one of my favorite textile blogs, </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.mrxstitch.com/">Mr. X Stitch</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">! Beefranck, aka Bridget, is one of the fabulous, hilarious, creative minds behind the site and I've admired </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/beefranck/sets/72157607955769730/">her work</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> for a long time. A few months ago I approached her about doing a swap and, to my utter delight, she accepted!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is what she made me:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/beefranck/4098600667/" title="Peer Gynt Cross Stitch by beefranck, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/4098600667_57434c8b30.jpg" alt="Peer Gynt Cross Stitch" height="375" width="500" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And this is what I made her:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama-sass/4115607252/" title="MST3K for Beefranck by Mama Sass, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4115607252_ec10f3672a.jpg" alt="MST3K for Beefranck" height="333" width="500" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Since we made the swap pretty close to Christmas she asked if I would be willing to make her another MST3K for a friend of hers, to which I couldn't say </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama-sass/4203814442/in/set-72157606507837907/">no</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">. A few weeks later she emailed me to say that she was going to feature me on Mr. X Stitch and I'm not gonna lie, I peed a little I was so thrilled. I love this site because they find some of the most creative and out-of-the-box textile work I've ever seen. In many many ways the work they feature there has inspired a lot of the work I do today. *tear* If you'd like to see the feature (and read the very kind words Beefranck has to say) you can find the article </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.mrxstitch.com/2010/01/25/beefrancks-emporium-mama-sass/">here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.<br /><br />Thank you, Bridget! You're the bestest!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*M*</span>*M*http://www.blogger.com/profile/06010638195330019352noreply@blogger.com0